Released version: ArcGIS Pro 2.8.8
ArcGIS Pro is the latest professional desktop GIS application from Esri. With ArcGIS Pro, you can explore, visualize, and analyze data; create 2D maps and 3D scenes; and share your work to your ArcGIS Online or ArcGIS Enterprise portal. The sections below introduce basic elements of the user interface. You will build on this knowledge as you use the application, read the help, and complete the tutorials.
Sign in
To start using ArcGIS Pro, you typically sign in with the credentials of your ArcGIS Online or ArcGIS Enterprise organization. Signing in is required if your software license is managed by your ArcGIS organization, which it is by default. Signing in also enables you to access web content, such as web maps, stored in your organization and other online repositories.
Projects
In ArcGIS Pro, a body of related work—consisting of maps, scenes, layouts, data, tables, tools, and connections to other resources—is typically organized in a project. By default, a project is stored in its own system folder. Project files have the extension .aprx. A project also has its own geodatabase (a file with the extension .gdb) and its own toolbox (a file with the extension .tbx).
When you start ArcGIS Pro, you can create a project from one of the four system templates. Each template creates a project file that starts the application in a different state. For example, a project created from the Map template starts with a map view containing a basemap layer. You can also start without a template. This allows you to work in ArcGIS Pro without saving a project file.
New projects can also be started from project templates made by you or shared with you by colleagues. A project template is a customized starting state for a project. Recently used templates appear on the start page. You can also browse to templates.
There are various ways to open your saved projects. Any project you have used recently is accessible from the start page. You can browse to other saved projects to open them. You can also pin a project to the start page to make sure it is always readily available.
| Element | Description |
|---|---|
 | Sign in to ArcGIS Pro with your ArcGIS organization credentials. |
 | Open a recent project. To open a project not on the list, click Open another project |
 | Create a project from a default ArcGIS Pro template. |
 | Access learning resources, including tutorials, courses, community support, blogs, and documentation. |
 | Create a project from a custom template. To create a project from a template not on the list, click Select another project template |
 | Access project and application settings. |
.ArcGIS Pro user interface
The main parts of the ArcGIS Pro interface are the ribbon, views, and panes. For a hands-on introduction, try the Introducing ArcGIS Pro quick-start tutorial.
Ribbon
ArcGIS Pro uses a horizontal ribbon at the top of the application window to display and organize functionality into a series of tabs. Some of these tabs (core tabs) are always present. Others (contextual tabs) appear when the application is in a particular state. For example, a set of contextual Feature Layer tabs appears when a feature layer is selected in the Contents pane.
| Element | Description |
|---|---|
| The Quick Access Toolbar has commonly used commands. |
| The Explore tool is used to navigate maps and scenes and identify features through pop-ups. |
| Ribbon tabs, such as the Analysis tab, organize functionality. When a tab is selected, its associated tools display on the ribbon. |
| Dialog box launchers open panes or dialog boxes with more functionality. |
| Groups organize functionality on a ribbon tab. |
| Contextual tab sets and their associated tabs appear under specific conditions. Contextual tab sets are highlighted in a color such as orange or green. |
 | Buttons and tools execute software actions. |
You can customize the ribbon and the Quick Access Toolbar.
Views
Views are windows for working with maps, scenes, tables, layouts, charts, reports, and other presentations of data. A project may have many views, which can be opened and closed as needed. Several views can be open at the same time, but only one is active.
| Element | Description |
|---|---|
| A map view is a window that displays a map. |
| Every view has a tab that can be used to close the view or drag it to a different position. The tab of the active view is blue. Clicking a view tab makes the view active. |
Panes
A pane is a dockable window that displays the contents of a view (the Contents pane), the contents of a project or portal (the Catalog pane), or commands and settings related to an area of functionality, such as the Symbology and Geoprocessing panes.
Panes offer functionality that is more advanced or complete than ribbon commands. Panes may have rows of text tabs and graphical tabs that partition and organize functionality.
| Element | Description |
|---|---|
| Some panes have more than one page. Use the Back button to switch pages. |
| Text-based primary tabs, such as Gallery and Properties, partition the pane's functionality. |
| Graphical secondary tabs partition the functionality of a primary tab. |
| Expanders are small arrows that you click to show or hide settings. |
| The Menu button contains additional commands. |
| Handles allow you to resize areas of a pane by dragging. Handles can be horizontally or vertically oriented. |
The first time you open ArcGIS Pro, the Contents and Catalog panes are open, and all other panes are closed. If you've used ArcGIS Pro before, the same panes that were open during your last session remain open the next time you start the application.
You can manage panes on the View tab of the ribbon. In the Windows group, click Contents 
or Catalog Pane 
to open these panes if they are closed. Click Reset Panes 
to choose a specific pane configuration.
Settings page
On the Settings page, you can perform basic file operations and configure the application. The Settings page can be accessed in two ways:
- From an open project, click the Project tab on the ribbon.
- From the ArcGIS Pro start page, click Settings
in the lower left corner.
Click the tabs on the left side of the page to access the settings you want to change.
| Tab | Description |
|---|---|
New | Create a project. |
Open | Open an existing project. |
Save | Save your current project. |
Save As | Save a copy of your current project. |
Portals | Manage portal connections and set your active portal. |
Licensing | View license information, authorize ArcGIS Pro to work offline, and change your license type. |
Options | Access general project and application options as well as options for specific functional areas such as editing, layout, and geoprocessing. |
Python | Configure Python environments and packages. |
Add-In Manager | Install add-ins to customize ArcGIS Pro. |
Help | Open the online or installed help system. |
About | View information about your ArcGIS Pro version and update to the latest version. |
Exit | Exit the application. |
Learning resources
Resources to help you learn ArcGIS Pro and keep up with new developments are available directly from the start page.
- What's New summarizes functionality added at the latest product release.
- Quick-start tutorials focus on essential workflows, such as authoring maps, making layouts, and sharing maps to the web.
- Learn ArcGIS lessons offer guided solutions to a diverse assortment of real-world problems.
- Esri Academy provides self-study and instructor-led courses, training seminars, learning videos, and more.
- Esri Community is the site where you can connect and collaborate with other users, share your ideas, and solve problems.
- Blogs include timely product announcements, how-to articles, and technical updates from Esri product engineers.
- Help is your entry point to the ArcGIS Pro documentation.
If you're migrating from ArcMap, the Coming from ArcMap resources are of special interest.
If you want to explore an area of practice, Discovery Paths present thematically related lessons, stories, articles, and videos.